RKO 281 is a film that deserves more recognition; I don't hear many people discussing it. It draws from the true story of what happened behind the scenes during the making of Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, and also incorporates elements from The Battle over Citizen Kane, which was part of The American Experience documentary series. After his famous War of the Worlds broadcast, Orson Welles (played by Liev Schreiber) receives a contract offering him complete creative control at RKO, but he struggles to develop an idea for a film and seems uninspired. During a party hosted by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst (James Cromwell), Welles finds his subject matter: he wants to make a movie about this influential figure. He and writer Herman Mankiewicz (John Malkovich) begin crafting the screenplay, which eventually becomes Citizen Kane. As the film nears completion, Hearst learns that it’s thinly veiled portrayal of himself – and not a flattering one at that – so he resolves to suppress the picture. He uses threats against Hollywood studio heads to acquire the film negative...and have it destroyed. I personally find this movie more captivating and superior to Citizen Kane itself, even though I enjoy that film. It’s a well-crafted story with a somewhat somber conclusion that holds your attention from beginning to end. A particular highlight for me is when Welles is actually filming Citizen Kane; the recreation of the sets is fantastic, with meticulous attention to detail! The actors deliver solid performances and the direction is effective. To truly understand RKO 281, it's best if you’ve already seen Citizen Kane. If that’s the case, then definitely watch this film. I wholeheartedly recommend it! I rate it a perfect 10/10.

Source on TMDB